DPRA's network planning, engineering, installation and implementation services delivers our clients information technology infrastructure providing reliable, scalable, and responsive enterprise-wide computing services. The key to delivering the most cost effective network options lies in realistic analysis of the day-to-day and long-term business functions which must operate on, and be supported by, the network.

Successful DPRA networking projects include:

Security National Bank

DPRA's network design for Security National Bank, a small but growing financial institution, provided improved electronic communications between branch offices, reduced network administrative overhead, and updated existing systems for Y2K compliance.

Color Printer Access

A 5-person company ask the DPRA's devise a way to provide staff access to an expensive color printer and set up procedures for sharing documents. DPRA proposed a peer-to-peer network using existing equipment in order to keep deployment and administrative costs low.

The DPRA Network

DPRA's own network deployment began with one office with 25 people and grew to multiple offices throughout the United States with about 200 total staff. Our network design provided consistent user interface at all locations, login from any workstation in any office, remote access, and unified e-mail systems. Internet resources were added later as the need arose for web-hosting, IT development, and research capabilities.

DPRA's Network Solutions Capabilities

For some organizations, a small "network" containing only a few workstations and systems may be appropriate. For others, the network may be sized to support an office campus, or to support regional or international business operations.

Regardless of the size of the network, timely and consistent end-user access to the desired information and applications is the critical measure of our clients' network and business success. DPRA approaches network development in the following, often integrated, stages:

  • Planning, including determination of the functional requirements of the network; 

  • Engineering, especially the identification of hardware and software solutions to support network requirements;

  • System integration and installation; 

  • Performance analysis and optimization; and 

  • Staff orientation and training.

A key step for success is working in partnership with the clients' manager and user communities to understand of the client's business workflow and the functional requirements of the network.

This process can include:

  • Conducting an inventory of existing systems environments, components, and related business operations; 

  • Identifying new components or business operations for which the network will be a critical foundation;

  • Determining security issues and requirements; 

  • Determining requirements for timeliness of information delivery to the client workstation; 

  • Determining systems backup requirements and recovery procedures; and 

  • Surveying staff representative of major user groups regarding their work functions, physical locations, and expectations for remote access to network resources.

In addition to analyzing the business workflow, DPRA's developers familiarize themselves with the existing network foundation of hardware and software. Technical requirements for network operating systems, system backup and recovery procedures, and communications equipment are also identified.

DPRA works with the client's IT management and other senior management staff to make decisions during the entire process, making sure the client understands the design and performance options, and the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Upon completion of the design, a deployment strategy is established to deliver the network in a non-intrusive manner. DPRA staff then assist the client with training as needed, and work in concert with client staff to install and test the network. Following deployment, DPRA works with the client to address issues as they arise, offering guidance and further training as required.